JP3288217B2 - Rear holder and waterproof connector using this rear holder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rear holder for holding an electric wire with a waterproof connector used in a place where water easily enters from outside such as an electric system of a vehicle, and a waterproof connector using the rear holder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 to 8 show a conventional waterproof connector 1 and a rear holder 3. FIG.

As shown in these drawings, a connector main body 5 of the waterproof connector 1 is provided with a terminal accommodating chamber 7 and an opening 9 and the like. Is inserted into the terminal side and is drawn out to the outside through the opening 9.

[0004] The terminal 11 is crimped to the core wire 19 and the covering portion 21 of the electric wire 13 by a core wire crimping portion 15 and a sheath crimping portion 17, respectively. A waterproof plug 23 made of rubber is fitted around the outer periphery of the electric wire 13 in a liquid-tight manner to prevent water from entering from outside with the opening 9.

[0005] A flexible lance 25 is provided in the terminal accommodating chamber 7 of the connector main body 5. When the terminal side end of the electric wire 13 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 7, the locking portion 27 of the terminal 11 is engaged.
And this lance 25 is locked to prevent the electric wire 13 from coming off.

The rear holder 3 is mounted in the opening 9. As shown in FIG.
The two wires 13 are inserted into the slit 29 from the width direction, and the rear holder 3 is opened with the wires 13 sandwiched between the slits 29 as shown in FIG.
, And is locked and fixed to the connector body 5 by the locking portions 31, 31.

[0007] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rear holder 3 locked to the connector main body 5 prevents the electric wire 13 from coming off through the cover caulking portion 17 of the terminal 11 and the waterproof plug 23.

[0008]

However, in the rear holder 3, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the slit 29 sandwiching the electric wire 13 is a straight line, and in the straight line direction (the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 6). The suppression of the electric wire 13 is not effective.

Therefore, when the electric wire 13 bends greatly in the X direction, the force acts on the waterproof plug 23 to form a gap between the waterproof plug 23 and the opening 9, and the waterproof function of the waterproof plug 23 decreases, and An electrical trouble such as a drop or malfunction of an electric device occurs.

When the electric wire 13 is bent in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 5, the electric wire 13 may be broken because the curvature of the bend is small.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a rear holder for preventing the waterproof function of a waterproof connector from deteriorating and preventing breakage of a housed electric wire, and a waterproof connector using the rear holder.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterproof connector for receiving a terminal end of an electric wire in a terminal accommodating chamber and extracting the electric wire from an opening on an electric wire outlet side and the electric wire. A locking portion with the waterproof connector, a mounting portion mounted in the opening, an electric wire holding portion formed integrally with the mounting portion and having an electric wire insertion hole for inserting an electric wire, and inserting the electric wire from the width direction. A slit formed through the mounting portion and the wire holding portion for passing through the hole, and engaging the terminal via the waterproofing plug and the covering crimping portion of the terminal crimped around the outer periphery of the covering portion of the electric wire. A rear holder for stopping and stopping, wherein the electric wire holding portion is protruded from the covering caulking portion side of the mounting portion, and an outer periphery of the electric wire holding portion and an inner side of the mounting portion.
A space is provided between the slit and the wall so that the electric wire can be opened and closed when the electric wire is passed from the slit to the electric wire insertion hole, and the electric wire holding portion can be bent along the electric wire.

In the rear holder according to the first aspect, the slit is opened, the electric wire is passed through the electric wire insertion hole of the electric wire holding portion from the width direction, and is locked to the waterproof connector by the locking portion. By fixing the rear holder sandwiching the electric wire to the connector body in this way, the electric wire is prevented from coming off via the terminal portion and the waterproof plug.

Further, as described above, by providing a space between the mounting portion and the wire holding portion, the wire holding portion is bent along the wire. Even if it bends in the direction, the curvature becomes large, and disconnection of the electric wire is prevented.

Further, even when the wire is bent in the slit direction, the elasticity of the wire holding portion becomes a resistance, so that the force for bending the wire is not applied to the waterproof plug. There is no gap between the cable and the waterproof connector. In this way, a decrease in the waterproof function is prevented, and electrical troubles such as poor insulation and malfunction of electric equipment are avoided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the rear holder according to the first aspect, a contact portion is formed in the wire holding portion so as to abut on the wire and bend together with the wire when the wire is bent in the slit direction. In this case, the same effects as those of the first aspect are obtained.

[0017] In addition, by forming a contact portion that abuts on the electric wire and bends together with the electric wire when the electric wire is bent in the slit direction, the contact portion is formed on the electric wire holding portion. The followability of the wire holding portion to the bending is improved, and the effect of preventing a decrease in the waterproof function is further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first or second aspect.
3. The rear holder according to claim 1, wherein the wire holding portion protrudes outward from the mounting portion, and an effect equivalent to the configuration of claim 1 or 2 is obtained.

In addition, by protruding the wire holding portion outward from the mounting portion, the wire holding portion becomes longer,
Since the curvature of the electric wire increases accordingly, the effect of preventing the disconnection of the electric wire is improved.

In addition, since the wire holding portion is lengthened in this manner, the elastic resistance of the wire holding portion when the wire is bent in the slit direction is increased, and the protection function of the waterproof plug is increased. The prevention effect is further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first to third aspects.
The rear holder according to any one of the above, characterized in that the electric wire holding portion is made thicker toward the mounting portion,
An effect equivalent to that of any one of claims 1 to 3 is obtained.

In addition to this, since the electric wire holding portion is made thicker toward the mounting portion, the elastic resistance of the electric wire holding portion against bending of the electric wire becomes maximum at a position close to the waterproof plug, and the waterproof function is deteriorated. The prevention effect and the disconnection prevention effect of the electric wire are further improved.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
5. The rear holder according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the wire holding portion and the wire are substantially the same, and the same as the configuration of claim 1. 6. To get the effect.

In addition, by making the cross-sectional shape of the wire holding portion substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the wire, the elastic resistance of the wire holding portion in the bending direction of the wire becomes constant,
Since the followability of the wire holding portion with respect to the bending of the wire is improved, the effect of preventing a reduction in the waterproof function is further improved.

In addition, this configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the electric wire holding portion and the electric wire has substantially the same shape allows the present invention to be applied to, for example, an electric wire having an elliptical cross section in addition to a general electric wire having a circular cross section. The range can be expanded.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector body having a terminal crimped electric wire, a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating an end of the electric wire on the terminal side, and an opening on an electric wire lead-out side for extracting the electric wire. An electric wire holding portion disposed between the electric wire and the engaging portion with the connector main body, an attaching portion to be attached to the opening, an electric wire insertion hole formed integrally with the attaching portion and having an electric wire insertion hole, A rear holder having a slit formed through the mounting portion and the wire clamping portion to pass the wire through the wire insertion hole from the width direction, and a sheath crimping portion of the terminal crimped around the sheath portion of the wire, A waterproof plug provided between the electric wire and the opening is provided between the rear holder and the waterproof plug.The waterproof plug is used to waterproof the inside, and the electric wire is locked by the rear holder via the cover caulking portion and the waterproof plug. Waterproof A connector, wherein the flexible material used in the rear holder, the wire holding portions from the covering crimping portion side of the mounting portion is projected, the outer periphery of the electric wire clamping portion
A space is provided between the inner wall side of the mounting portion and the slit, and when the electric wire is passed through the electric wire insertion hole from the slit, the slit can be opened and closed, and the electric wire holding portion can be bent along the electric wire. And

As described above, in the waterproof connector according to the sixth aspect, after the waterproof plug is attached to the outer periphery of the electric wire, the slit of the rear holder is opened, and the electric wire is passed through the electric wire insertion hole of the electric wire holding portion from the width direction. The rear holder is locked to the connector body by the locking portion.

Thus, the waterproof plug waterproofs the inside, and the rear holder prevents the electric wires from coming off.

Further, as described above, by providing a space between the mounting portion of the rear holder and the wire holding portion, disconnection is prevented even if the wire is bent in any direction, and the wire is bent in the slit direction. In addition, due to the elastic resistance of the wire holding portion, the waterproof function of the waterproof plug is prevented from lowering and electrical troubles such as poor insulation are prevented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the waterproof connector according to the sixth aspect, wherein the rear holder is the rear holder according to any one of the second to fifth aspects. The same effect as that of the configuration is obtained.

In addition to the above, by using the rear holder according to the second to fifth aspects for the rear holder, the above-described effects of each of the above configurations can be obtained.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a rear holder according to the present invention and a waterproof connector using the rear holder will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment corresponds to claims 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are provided. In the following description, members that are not given reference numerals are not shown.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a waterproof connector 41 of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rear holder 43 used in the waterproof connector 41, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear holder 43, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a part of a rear holder 43 into which the reference numeral 11 is inserted.

As shown in each of these figures, the waterproof connector 41 is formed such that a connector main body 45 and a fitting hood 47 are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector main body 45 is provided with a terminal accommodating chamber 49 and an opening 51. The terminal accommodating chamber 49 has a terminal-side end portion of the electric wire 13 to which the terminal 11 is crimped inserted. And the other end of the electric wire 13 has an opening 51.
The wire is drawn out to the outside on the wire drawing side.

The terminal 11 is inserted into the cavity 53 of the fitting hood 47.
When the waterproof connector 41 is connected to the mating connector, the terminal 11 is connected to the mating terminal.

A rubber waterproof plug 5 is provided around the outer periphery of the electric wire 13.
5 is fitted in a liquid-tight manner.

In the terminal accommodating chamber 49 of the connector body 45,
A flexible lance is provided, and when the terminal end of the electric wire 13 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 49, the locking portion 2 of the terminal 11 is provided.
7 and this lance are locked.

A rear holder 43 is mounted in the opening 51 of the connector body 45.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear holder 43
Are a locking portion 57 with the connector body 45, a mounting portion 59 mounted on the inner periphery of the opening 51, wire clamping portions 61, 61 formed integrally with the mounting portion 59, and each of the wire clamping portions 61, 6
1, two sets of electric wire insertion holes 63 provided opposite each other,
63.

Further, a slit 65 is formed in the rear holder 43 through the mounting portion 59 and the wire holding portions 61, 61. The rear holder 43 has flexibility, and the slit 65 can be opened and closed by bending of the connecting portion 67.

As shown in FIG. 3, a space 69 is provided between each wire holding portion 61 and the mounting portion 59, and each wire holding portion 61
Has sufficient flexibility. Also, each wire insertion hole 63,
63, the electric wire 13 is provided in the direction of the slit 65 (arrow X in FIG. 1).
Abutting portion 7 that abuts on electric wire 13 when bent in
1, 71 are formed.

Each of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 is provided with a mounting portion 59.
, And each wire holding portion 61, 61 gradually becomes thicker toward the mounting portion 59.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
The cross-sectional shapes of 1 and 61 are the same circle as the electric wire 13.

Thus, the waterproof connector 41 and the rear holder 43 are formed.

Next, the operation will be described.

In order to attach the electric wire 13 to the waterproof connector 41, first, a waterproof plug 55 is attached to the outer periphery of the covering portion 21 of the electric wire 13 near the covering crimping portion 17 of the terminal 11. Next, the slit 65 of the rear holder 43 is opened appropriately, and the two electric wires 13 to which the waterproof plugs 55 are attached are passed through the electric wire insertion holes 63 of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 from the width direction. In this state, the electric wires 13, the terminals 11, and the waterproof plugs 55 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 49 of the connector main body 45, the rear holder 43 is mounted on the opening 51, and the locking portions 57 are locked on the connector main body 45. Then, the rear holder 43 is fixed.

When the terminal 11 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 49,
As described above, the flexible lance and the locking portion 27 are locked, and the wires 13 are prevented from coming off. (First retaining function) The waterproof plug 55 attached to each electric wire 13 presses the opening 51 to prevent water from entering from outside.

Further, since the sheath crimping portion 17 of the terminal 11 has a larger diameter than the sheath portion 21 of the electric wire 13, the rear holder 43
Is locked to the connector body 45, the rear holder 43 prevents the electric wire 13 from coming off through the cover caulking portion 17 and the waterproof plug 55. (Second retaining function) In addition, as described above, by providing the space 69 between the mounting portion 59 of the rear holder 43 and the electric wire holding portions 61, 61, the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 Can bend freely. Therefore, when the electric wire 13 is bent, the electric wire clamping portions 61, 61
Also bends along the electric wire 13 and its elasticity causes the electric wire 13
Increase the curvature of. Accordingly, disconnection of the electric wire 13 is prevented in any direction.

Further, even when the electric wire 13 is bent in the direction of the slit 65, the elasticity of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 becomes a resistance and the force for bending the electric wire 13 is blocked from the waterproof plug 55.
Unlike the conventional example, there is no gap between the waterproof plug 55 and the opening 51 of the connector body 45. In this way, a decrease in the waterproof function of the waterproof plug 55 is prevented, and electrical troubles such as poor insulation and malfunction of electric equipment are avoided.

Further, the contact portions 71, 71 are
61, the electric wire 13 is
When bent in the direction, the wire holding portions 61
Since the followability to bend along 3 is improved, the effect of preventing a decrease in the waterproof function is further improved.

In addition, by making the cross-sectional shape of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 the same circular shape as the cross-sectional shape of the electric wire 13, the elasticity of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 regardless of the direction in which the electric wire 13 bends. The resistance becomes constant, the followability of the wire holding portions 61, 61 with respect to the bending of the wire 13 is improved, and the effect of preventing a reduction in the waterproof function is further improved.

Also, as shown in FIG.
Since the end of the wire 13 protrudes outward from the mounting portion 59 and is lengthened, the curvature of the wire 13 increases accordingly, and the effect of preventing the wire 13 from breaking is further improved.

Further, the elastic resistance of the electric wire holding portions 61, 61 when the electric wire 13 is bent in the direction of the slit 65 is also increased by lengthening the electric wire holding portions 61, 61, and the waterproof function of the waterproof plug 55 is reduced. The effect of prevention is further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG.
1 is gradually increased in thickness toward the mounting portion 59, the elastic resistance of the electric wire clamping portions 61, 61 against bending of the electric wire 13 becomes maximum at a position close to the waterproof plug 55, and the waterproof function of the waterproof plug 55. And the effect of preventing disconnection of the electric wire 13 are further improved.

In the present invention, as described above, the rear holder is made of a flexible material because of the reason that the slit is opened and closed as the electric wire is attached and detached and the electric wire holding portion is bent along the electric wire. A material is used, and the material may be arbitrarily selected from materials such as soft rubber and flexible plastic depending on the place of use, strength, chemical resistance, service life, and the like.

[0057]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the wire holding portion of the rear holder bends freely along the wire, the wire is bent in any direction unlike the conventional example. Even so, the curvature is increased to prevent disconnection.

Further, even if the electric wire is bent in the slit direction, the force of bending the electric wire is cut off from the waterproof plug by the elastic resistance of the electric wire holding portion, and a gap is formed between the waterproof plug and the connector body unlike the conventional example. Therefore, a decrease in the waterproof function is prevented, and troubles in the electric system and the electric device are avoided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the electric wire is bent in the slit direction by the contact portion of the electric wire holding portion with the electric wire formed in the slit direction. The followability between the wire holding portion and the wire is improved, and the effect of preventing the waterproof function from lowering is further improved.

According to the invention of claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In addition to the effect of the configuration, the curvature of the electric wire is increased by the electric wire holding portion protruding outward from the mounting portion, and the effect of preventing disconnection of the electric wire is improved.

Further, by making the wire holding portion longer, the elastic resistance when the wire is bent in the slit direction increases, and the effect of preventing the waterproof function from lowering is further improved.

According to the invention of claim 4, claims 1 to 3
In addition to the effects of the above configuration, the elastic resistance of the wire holding part, which gradually becomes thicker toward the mounting part, is greatest at a position close to the waterproof plug, preventing the waterproof function from decreasing and preventing the wire from breaking. Is further improved.

According to the invention of claim 5, claims 1 to 4
In addition to the effect of the configuration described above, the cross-sectional shape of the wire holding portion is made substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the wire, so that the elastic resistance of the wire holding portion in the bending direction of the wire becomes constant, and the wire holding portion with respect to the bending of the wire becomes Is improved, so that the effect of preventing a decrease in the waterproof function is further improved.

According to this configuration in which the cross section of the electric wire holding portion and the cross section of the electric wire are substantially the same, the present invention can be applied not only to a general electric wire having a circular cross section but also to an electric wire having an elliptical cross section. The range of implementation is expanded.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the rear holder having a space between the mounting portion and the wire holding portion prevents the wire from being disconnected regardless of the bending direction of the wire, and the wire is bent in the slit direction. In addition, the deterioration of the waterproof function of the waterproof connector is prevented by the elastic resistance of the wire holding portion, and electrical troubles such as poor insulation are prevented.

According to the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the structure of claim 6, by using the rear holder of the structure of claims 2 to 5 for the rear holder, the effect of each of these structures can be obtained. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a rear holder and a waterproof connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rear holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rear holder of FIG. 1 cut along an electric wire insertion hole.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the rear holder of FIG. 1 through which an electric wire is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the conventional example of FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional example of FIG.

8 is a perspective view showing a conventional rear holder used in the conventional example of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Terminal 13 Electric wire 17 Coated crimping part 21 Coated part 41 Waterproof connector 43 Rear holder 45 Connector main body 49 Terminal storage room 51 Opening 55 Waterproof plug 57 Locking part 59 Mounting part 61 Electric wire clamping part 63 Electric wire insertion hole 65 Slit 69 Space 71 Contact

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] A terminal housing for accommodating a terminal end of the electric wire in a terminal accommodating chamber and being disposed between the electric wire and an opening of a waterproof connector for extracting the electric wire from an opening on a wire drawing side; A mounting portion to be mounted in the opening, a wire holding portion formed integrally with the mounting portion and having a wire insertion hole through which the wire is inserted, and the mounting portion and the wire holding portion for passing the wire through the wire insertion hole from the width direction. A rear holder having a slit formed therethrough, and locking and preventing the terminal from being pulled out via a waterproof crimping portion and a covering crimping portion of the terminal crimped around the covering portion of the electric wire, The wire holding portion protrudes from the covering crimping portion side of the mounting portion, and the wire holding portion is provided outside the wire holding portion.
A space is provided between the circumference and the inner wall side of the mounting portion, and when the electric wire is passed from the slit to the electric wire insertion hole, the slit can be opened and closed, and the electric wire holding portion can be bent along the electric wire. A featured rear holder. 2. The electric wire insertion hole according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire insertion hole is formed with a contact portion that abuts on the electric wire when the electric wire is bent in the slit direction and that bends the electric wire holding portion together with the electric wire. The rear holder characterized by the above. 3. The rear holder according to claim 1, wherein the wire holding portion protrudes outward from a mounting portion. 4. The rear holder according to claim 1, wherein the wire holding portion is thicker toward the mounting portion. 5. The rear holder according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the electric wire holding portion and the electric wire have substantially the same shape. 6. A connector body having an electric wire with a crimped terminal, a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal side end of the electric wire, and an opening on an electric wire lead-out side for extracting the electric wire, and between the opening and the electric wire. An engaging portion that is arranged and connected to the connector main body, an attaching portion that is attached to the opening, an electric wire holding portion that is formed integrally with the attaching portion and that has an electric wire insertion hole through which the electric wire is inserted. A rear holder having a slit formed through the mounting portion and the wire holding portion to pass through the wire insertion hole, and a sheath crimping portion of the terminal crimped around the sheath portion of the wire, and the rear holder. A waterproof plug disposed between the electric wire and the opening, waterproofing the inside with the waterproof plug, and locking and preventing the electric wire with a rear holder through a cover caulking portion and the waterproof plug to prevent the waterproof plug from coming off. A connector, Using a flexible material for the rear holder, the wire holding portion is protruded from the cover crimping portion side of the mounting portion, and the outer periphery of the wire holding portion and the inside of the mounting portion are provided.
A waterproof connector, wherein a space is provided between a wall side and the slit so that the slit can be opened and closed when an electric wire is passed through the electric wire insertion hole from the slit, and the electric wire holding portion is bendable along the electric wire. 7. The waterproof connector according to claim 6, wherein the rear holder is the rear holder according to any one of claims 2 to 5.